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Round-Trip EF66 Blue Train Set (1985)
First written September 23 2024
Released in 1985, the Round Trip EF-66 Blue Train Set (往復EF-66ブルートレインセット) was an updated version of the 1975 Round-Trip Plarail Train Station Set with a Round-Trip EF66 and two 24 series passenger cars from the Blue Train with a small layout with car wash and garage. In 1985 the JNR timetables changed to put the EF-66, which was previously only used for freight, into service on some Blue Train sleeper passenger cars.
The N-34 mark on the top of the box signifies that it was produced in 1985. This was the second-to-last Round-Trip Plarail set.
Set contents| Quantity |
Item |
Photo |
|---|---|---|
| 3 pieces | Round-Trip EF66 with Blue Train sleeper cars |
 |
| 3 | R-01 Straight Rail |
 |
| 8 | R-03 Curve Rail |
 |
| 1 | R-09 Reciprocating Return Rail |
 |
| 1 | R-11 Turnout Rail ("L" type) |
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| 2 | Rail joints |
 |
| 2 pieces | J-02 Block Tunnel (entrance and exit pieces) |
 |
| 1 |
J-07 Car Wash |
 |
| 1 | J-09 Garage |
 |
| 1 |
Buffers |
 |
| 4 | Catenary |
 |
| 3 |
Standing Tree |
 |
| 1 |
Signal |
 |
The Round-Trip EF66 was first released in the later 1970s and was also sold individually throughout the 1980s. In March 1985 EF66s were put into service hauling Blue Train sleeper trains which this set depicts using the 24 series Blue Train cars already in production for the EL05 Blue Train. These cars depict the Fuji line which EF-66s did service. Later Plarail releases include EF-66s hauling Blue Trains on the Hayabusa and Asakaze services, but this is the only Fuji EF-66 - although it has no headmark and the train is made up of components sold in other sets and individually. Being mid 1980s production, it uses the older style of reversing gearbox with "internal" friction drive. The cars are standard mid 1980s production.
This set includes a standard Japan-production car wash with two concave joints on a siding with a garage and buffers. A block tunnel as well as several trees and catenaries and a signal are also included.
The rail in this set in mid 1980s roughtop rail. The curve rails are the "V split" type that split with age as the plastic contracts. The intended layout incorporates an "L" turnout with one of the two included joint connectors used to connect the train wash and siding as well as a return rail to reverse the train.
Set up as shown in the standalone photos the train looks rather nice washing the coaches and visiting the depot before pulling out and heading off again. The siding is just about long enough for the train to reverse when flipped around, as the child has it set up on the cover of the box, but the back car rides up on the buffers. This problem of length is probably why the original 1970s Round-Trip train wash set came with only one coach.
With a nice fresh battery and servicing the round-trip chassis really throws its weight around when reversing... Although both the locomotive and cars were previously released individually, it is neat that this set was released after the real-life timetables changed to bring them together... It is a fairly small set all things considered, but the Round-Trip reversing is a fun gimmick and the accessories are nice, fitting, and fairly plentiful.
| Set name | Round-Trip EF66 Blue Train Set 往復EF-66ブルートレインセット |
Release period | 1985 |
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| Notes: | Price |